Heavy (Iron Butterfly album)


Heavy is the debut studio album by the rock band Iron Butterfly, released on January 22, 1968.
The first two tracks, "Unconscious Power" and "Possession", were released as the respective sides of a single.
Three of the group's members left the band shortly after the album was recorded, leaving Ingle and Bushy to find replacements. Despite being a debut album with no hit single to provide an entry point for the casual listener, Heavy was a commercial success, reaching number 78 on the Billboard Charts and eventually going Gold in the US.

Cover art

The album's artwork depicts the band members playing their instruments beside a large monument of a human ear. It was designed by Armando Busich and Joe Ravetz.

Background

Iron Butterfly had amassed a considerable body of material by the time Heavy was recorded, much of which was held over for later albums. In addition to the ten songs on Heavy, songs from this era include "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", "Lonely Boy", "Real Fright", "Filled with Fear", "Evil Temptation", "It's All Up to You", and "Gloomy Day to Remember".

Reception

Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine rated Heavy three-and-a-half out of five stars. He stated that "most of the album was not particularly well written" but that "the band's overwhelmingly loud sonic attack occasionally made up for the weakness in the material."

Track listing

Personnel

Iron Butterfly

;US singles
;International singles